What is database? Database

What is database?

Background

Human beings started to store information very long ago . Even during the age of stoned age, people use to keep the records by searching the marks on the barks of the trees and in  the form of piles of stones and so on. From this age, the way and the system of keeping records developed slowly and gradually. Initially, organized database systems were developed by the government offices , libraries, hospitals and many business organizations. They even developed  the basic principal of database system which are still in use even today.

Computerized database system started after 1960s when the use of computer became much more sophisticated. The decreasing price of computer became effective options for the private organizations as a result the use of database system too became wide. Initially, IBM used the database system called SABRE  to help American Airlines to manage its reservation data.

After 1970 onwards the use of database became  wider. The thinking pattern of people regarding data and database too changed dramatically. The use of database spread from government sectors to the private sectors. Every organization started to maintain the data related to its different activities. They store data as per their need in the form of table. The organizations maintain data in such a way that they can be easily accessed and presented in the desired formats. In the past, such data were maintained manually. In manually created database different problems used to arise during the data update. If the data would be updated, it had to be done individually in each field and record. To overcome such problems of manually created database, the electronic database was introduced. After the introduction of electronic database the use of database increasing rapidly.

Database

Database is the systematic collection of logically related data about particular subject for particular purpose. The data in database should be logically related to each other. A database organizes the data in such a way that a user can access data in easy manner. Telephone Diary, Marks ledger, Flight schedule, Dictionary, etc. are the examples of database. A telephone dictionary gives the information about a particular person such as his name, address, telephone number etc. Similarly, a marks ledger gives the information about the marks obtained by a student in different subject. There are two types of databases:

a. Manual Database:

When there were no computers people used to create and manipulate data manually. Manual databases are being used in some institutions even today. Manual database is not recorded in the electronic or digital form. So, the database that is created and organized manually and is recorded in the form of manual file is called manual database.

b. Electronic Database:

The database that is created and manipulated using the electronic device like computer is called electronic database or computerized database. Manual database has number of difficulties and problems in data manipulation. So, to  overcome these problems, electronic database was introduced. Electronic databases are more convenient in many ways in comparison to manual databases. Electronic database are stored in computer in the form of digital file.

 
Basic Terms used in electronic database:

Data:

Data are the raw facts and figures collected from different sources which may or may not give complete sense or meaning. Data are represented by sign, symbol, alphabet, number etc. Data needs to be processed to get information. DBMS processes and manipulates the data and gives valuable information. To get correct information the data feed to the system must be correct.

Data processing:

Processing includes any sort of actions that we perform on data to get information. Simply, data processing is the action of converting raw data to the meaning full information. The collected data can be processed manually or electronically using the electronic device like computer.

Information:

The processed or arranged fact that  gives complete sense or meaning is called information. The information obtained only after processing data. If the data feed to the system are correct we get correct information otherwise we get wrong information. So, correct data leads to correct information-correct information leads to correct decision and correct decision leads to correct result or output.

Topics covered: what is database, introduction to database, classification of database, types of database, database full details, short notes on database, database background